Madonna dei Fornelli has an ancient history, and its name recalls the long-standing tradition of turning wood into charcoal to withstand the harsh winters of the area (at 800 meters above sea level). The fornelli—fires lit in the woods or in special kilns also used to turn stones into lime—produced long plumes of smoke rising into the sky.

Just a few steps from the Sanctuary, the old village of Fornello is still visible, where one of these kilns probably once stood. The current religious building dates back to the early 1900s and became a parish and Sanctuary in 1960.

Much earlier, probably around the early 1600s, there was already a chapel with a very unique dedication to the Madonna della Neve (Our Lady of the Snow). Its name comes from an extraordinary event: a snowfall on August 5 of a year near 1610. This event, very similar to what had happened centuries earlier at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, fostered devotion to the Madonna, making the site a reference point for the surrounding communities.

Later, around the time of the great plague of 1630—as noted in inscriptions on the architrave of the entrance door—the local inhabitants chose the Marian image as their protector, believing they had been miraculously spared from the scourge. Following this divine favor, all neighboring communities decided to build a larger and more dignified place of devotion. The Madonna renewed her grace again centuries later, in 1855, during the terrible cholera epidemic that struck the area; this event is also recorded in an inscription in the church.

The image of the Madonna and Child—the same one venerated in the early 1600s, a large oil on copper—is now placed in the apse and dominates the main altar. In 1994, the current bell tower, with an octagonal base and 33 meters high, was completed.

Two festivals are associated with the Sanctuary: the Ascension, with a procession to Castel dell’Alpi to commemorate the bond between the two communities, and August 5, in memory of the miraculous snowfall that made Fornelli the village of the Madonna della Neve.

Just 3.5 km from Monghidoro, in the center of the village of Piamaggio, along the provincial road SP60, amidst old stone houses and taverns, stands the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii. Before the current place of worship, around the 1600s, there was a small oratory dedicated to Saint Francis of Paola and later to Saint Lawrence the Martyr.

In 1885, the archpriest of Monghidoro, Monsignor Giuseppe Fanti, seeing the dilapidated state of the oratory, decided to rebuild it from scratch and expand its volume. This news was received with great joy by the people of Piamaggio, who supported him in this endeavor, self-taxing and working hard on the construction, which was completed in 1893.

It was also Monsignor Fanti’s idea to place in the new temple the image of the Madonna of Pompeii, to promote and spread devotion to the Most Holy Rosary among the people. Thanks to this strong devotion, Monsignor Fanti managed to raise the funds to have the image of the Blessed Virgin painted by the Bolognese artist Sante Nucci and to purchase the panels of the 15 Mysteries of the Rosary, which framed it beautifully.

On July 27, 1894, the image was carried in procession with the town band and blessed by the parish priest before a joyful multitude of faithful. Since then, every year on the last Sunday of July, the community of Piamaggio celebrates its Sanctuary, the image of the Madonna of Pompeii, and with it their own history.

The stone portico, composed of three arches protecting the Sanctuary entrance, was built in 1898 by the faithful, who once again, stone by stone, wanted to honor their church. From that time on, pilgrimages from Bologna and Tuscany followed in succession. The title of Sanctuary was granted in the early 1900s and confirmed in 1914. On June 29, 1956, Cardinal Archbishop Giacomo Lercaro officially established the status of Parish of Piamaggio, recognizing the dedication of the local community to this small but important place of faith.

The origins of this place are very ancient, although there are no certain records until 1223, when it belonged to the jurisdiction of the Comune of Bologna and the Conti di Campeggio family. In 1784, after being governed by the Pieve of Barbarolo, it passed under the parish of Monghidoro.

The dedication to Our Lady of Lourdes comes from a right-side lateral chapel of the church, which is dedicated to San Prospero. In this chapel, a faithful reproduction of the Massabielle Grotto of Lourdes, France was created by a skilled artisan from Bergamo, Guelfo Ravasio. It depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary, with Bernadette at her feet, and a small stream recalling the miraculous Lourdes spring. A passage behind the rock allows visitors to approach the statue of the Madonna.

This unique feature, along with the numerous testimonies of graces received here, has made Campeggio widely known, earning it the nickname “Little Bolognese Lourdes”. The bell tower dates back to the early 1700s, while the current church building was constructed at the end of the 19th century.

Much of the church’s current richness in artworks and valuable artifacts is thanks to Don Augusto Bonafè, who donated many of his personal possessions to embellish the church. From 1919, for 25 years, his work as archpriest was extraordinarily effective. In 1923, following one of his pilgrimages to Lourdes, he decided to undertake the faithful reconstruction of the grotto.

Campeggio has always had a strong Marian devotion, which grew steadily in the surrounding communities. During World War I (1915–1918), it became a daily pilgrimage destination for people from both Bologna and Florence. Inspired by his faith in the Virgin Mary, Don Bonafè quickly managed to finance the creation of several external works for the sanctuary, including statues, a Via Crucis leading to Monte Calvario completed in 1936, the avenue of parish priests in 1924, the avenue of remembrances the following year, and even the construction of an aqueduct. All his parishioners supported him in this endeavor, which today makes Campeggio one of the most important pilgrimage destinations from the two cities.

A small gem of spirituality emerges from the dense vegetation along the ridge between Loiano and Monghidoro. Modest and simple in form, it is the ancient Sanctuary of Madonna dei Boschi. Located at the edge of a narrow passage on the road crossing the homonymous locality, just 2 km from the town center, the sanctuary has in recent years experienced a remarkable revival of devotion thanks to the community of Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.

The current religious building stands on the remains of an old chapel founded in 1616, originally called Beata Vergine del Nuvoleto or Bocca di Nugoletto. It all began with a Marian image set into a small pillar, closely resembling the Madonna of San Luca. Situated where the church now stands, it became a reference point for the distant rural communities that played a leading role in the history of Madonna dei Boschi. Thanks to the generosity of their donations, the sanctuary was completed in 1685.

In the early 1700s, following a pastoral visit, Cardinal Boncompagni referred to the church as “miraculs clari”, in recognition of the numerous graces granted by the Madonna to her devotees. The interior is a revelation: rich in artworks, including several by sculptor Antonio Gambarini, the temple centers around the icon of the Blessed Virgin with Child, which dominates the main altar in correspondence with the ancient pillar.

The friars are the heart of this small jewel of the Apennines. Arriving in 2013 under the guidance of rector Father Gabriele Pellettieri, they have successfully engaged the surrounding communities, generating a surprising wave of devotion. Every day at 7 a.m. from Monday to Saturday, and on Sunday at 9 a.m., it is possible to attend a very moving Latin celebration.

The most important feast takes place in May, on the religious occasion of the Ascension: from the lower Sanctuary of Campeggio, a procession brings the icon of the Virgin back to Madonna dei Boschi. The two sanctuaries are inseparably linked by this centuries-old tradition, and in this symbiosis, they remain fundamental religious landmarks in the popular imagination of the Apennine communities.

The Loiano Astronomical Park is located in the Tusco-Emilian Apennines and is managed by the Institute of Astrophysics and Space Science of Bologna (INAF). The park includes two telescopes, a planetarium, a teaching classroom housed in separate structures, and a Solar System trail.

The historic telescope, featuring a 60 cm diameter mirror and dating back to the 1930s, is entirely dedicated to public outreach. The digital planetarium hosts projections and shows for both adults and children. The teaching classroom includes various rooms with multimedia exhibits, spaces for short lectures, screenings, and workshops for children.

The Solar System trail represents the planets in scaled size and distance and is enriched with informative panels. It connects the planetarium to the Cassini Telescope, which has a 152 cm mirror and is reserved for astronomical research by professional INAF astronomers. The trail is open for daytime visits.

The Historic Telescope, the Planetarium, and the teaching classroom can be visited by reservation on the park’s opening days.

The green areas within the municipality of Monghidoro are highly valued and much appreciated, offering numerous natural trails suitable for walking, cycling, or horseback riding.

Alpe di Monghidoro is notable for its extensive beech forests, which provide very pleasant temperatures during the summer and stunningly peaceful scenery. The area also features an adventure park, Triton’s Park.

In the upper Idice Valley lies the La Martina Park, now part of the ZSC La Martina – Monte Gurlano. It has recently undergone redevelopment by the municipality and local volunteers, who restored its dense network of trails.

From Piamaggio, continuing toward the hamlet of Villa di Mezzo, a short stretch leads down through the woods to the Mulino Mazzone. Built around 1700, it is the only mill in the Savena Valley still in operation.

With its small artificial pond fed by the Rio del Piattello, its beautiful park, and the loading canal reflecting centuries-old trees, it is an ideal spot for a rest. The mill can be visited by appointment.

It is accessible via a short detour from the main trail, after which you can rejoin the path by taking the CAI 905 trail toward Alpe di Monghidoro.

In the small hamlet of Piamaggio, there are two museums:

• The Museum of Peasant Life of the Bolognese Apennines reconstructs several environments that existed in the area up until the 1960s, including a 1:3 scale model of the interior of a water mill.

• The Small Emigrant Museum traces the phases of Italian emigration from 1875 to the present day through large panels, documents, objects, and testimonies on emigration from Monghidoro to other countries.

In the attached Documentation Center, visitors can consult letters, conference proceedings, written and filmed interviews, photographs, numerous films, and books, all focused on the theme of emigration.

Shortly before the end of the 4th stage, you reach Castel dell’Alpi Lake, in the eponymous locality. This is the only natural lake in the province of Bologna, formed in 1951 following a massive landslide that blocked the course of the Savena stream.

Around the lake runs a highly picturesque walking path, allowing visitors to admire the old San Biagio Church, which was spared by the landslide, located on the left bank where the original village once stood. On the right side lies the new settlement, featuring a few dining spots and an inn for overnight stays.